Critical reasoning is Accenture's biggest cognitive block — 18 questions — and it has a signature style found in few other exams: scenario-based logic. Instead of only classic puzzles, Accenture describes a workplace rule or process (“reports must be reviewed before submission…”) and asks what logically follows.
What the reasoning section covers
- Scenario/rule-based logic (Accenture's favourite format)
- Coding-decoding — digit codes, letter-pair swaps
- Data arrangements and seating
- Direction sense and blood relations
- Series, analogies and odd one out (abstract reasoning)
- Data sufficiency, syllogisms and flowcharts
Practice Accenture reasoning questions
A project guideline states that reports must be reviewed before submission. A team member submits a report without review. What is the main logical issue?
If PALE is coded as 2134 and EARTH is coded as 41576, how is PEARL coded?
During an assessment, a candidate reads a question quickly and selects an answer without checking all options. Which cognitive skill is missing?
Strategy for scenario questions: find the stated rule and pick the option that follows from it alone — wrong options smuggle in assumptions (seniority, deadlines, intentions) the passage never made. For coding-decoding, write the letter mapping out; never do it in your head.
Next: Verbal Ability questions, then the section most candidates skip — Technical Assessment.